Style Post

Hello beautiful beings!

I'm one of those people that don't really experiment with clothing. I tend to find a style or particular clothing combination that I like and stick to it. I thought this was a bad thing, however on reflection, why should it be? Clothes should be a way of reflecting yourself and if you want to wear that same thing everyday then great! So instead of thinking that I wear the same thing every day, I've learnt to embrace my style. I know I like wearing outfits that are a bit preppy and my favourite look at the moment is a floral skirt and thick tights/leggings with some ankle boots and a shirt. I know that will change and I'll be into wearing something else in a months time and I'm okay with that. Am I the only one who seems to stick to one style? What's your favourite look to wear right now?

Love Just Al xx

Ps. If you want to follow me on instagram to see more of my style, follow me on https://instagram.com/just_al_dreamer/

This Saved Me!

Hi there! 

Okay so I know the title of this post is quite melodramatic... However, if you have ever had chapped, sore lips, then you would know how horrid it is. You can't wear lip sticks because they stick to the dry skin (and just look gross) and eating salt and vinegar crisps is torture!  Well, I have found this amazing (and cheap) product that fixed my lips in..... Wait for it..... One application!!! 

Usually when I have chapped lips, I turn to the trusty Vaseline. But it just wasn't cutting it this time. It would sooth my lips for a bit but not completely. So I went to Boots and found this little gem- 'Blistex: MedPlus'. 

On the packaging it said, 'A medicated balm with a dream team of ingredients to repair and restore your lips. Jojoba Oil and Cocoa Butter for conditioning and Menthol to add soothing coolness.' And to use it, 'when your lips are in distress and need to be rescued from dryness. Apply anytime, whenever your lips need some TLC.' And for £2.50, I was sold! 

As soon as I got out the shop, I applied it straight away. Immediately I felt this cooling sensation on my lips that was soothing. It wasn't over the top like some lip tingling products. It's smell reminds me of Olbas Oil but more toned down. The texture is the same as Vaseline and the tub is the perfect size to fit in your bag or even your pocket! 

After a few minutes, my lips were no longer chapped and sore! I then kept applying this throughout the day. Not that I needed it... But because I loved the cooling affect that it had on my lips! 

The only bad point I have about this product is you have to apply this with your finger which is less practical. However, what I do to solve this, is to kiss it. This sounds really odd... But the tub size fits around my pout and it's a way of getting the product onto my lips without using my fingers! Seriously, try it next time! 

Hope you enjoyed this review!

Love, Just Al Dreamer 

(Alex Shinnick)

Xxx

P.S This post is not sponsored in any way!

How to Make a Bow out of Your Own Hair!

Hi there! 

I hope you have had a fabulous day. Here in England the sky has been grey and it's been raining all day. I've managed to cheer myself up, despite the miserable weather, by doing a bit of shopping with my mum this morning and then painted her nails for her. This afternoon, I got quite bored so I ended up playing with my hair! (Am I the only one who does this?!) I experimented a little bit and ended up doing this bow from my own hair by accident! It was so easy to do and looks so cute that I thought I would share it with you all! (P.S Sorry about the terrible pictures! It was hard to do with one hand!)

1. Start off doing the same motions as if you were putting your hair into a high ponytail on the top of your head. Make a loop of your hair with the remainder of your hair facing your face. The bigger the loop, the bigger the bow!

2. Split the loop in half and put the remainder of the hair through the middle. I then put that bit of hair through the bobble at the back but you can grip it instead if you like! And that's it folks! Super easy right?! However re-reading my instructions, I seemed to have made it more complicated than what it is! Just keep playing around and hopefully you will get it! And if in doubt, there is always YouTube right? ;) 

I think this hairstyle would also look great on a hair-up/hair-down style and also as a miniature on the side of your head!

Happy Monday!

Love, Just Al Dreamer (Alex Shinnick)

xxx

Shellac Christmas Themed Nails

My red, sparkly, Christmas inspired shellac nails! What do you think?

Sometimes things are better left unsaid...

Hello! This post is all about a conversation I had with someone that is on my drama course at uni who was very upset about something that happened the other day and it made me think about how in today's society, people tend to voice their opinions more freely without thinking about how it affects others.

In my drama course, we have the opportunity to go to a screening session where we can watch recordings of past theatre shows or films that are relevant to our current modules to inspire us and aid our learning. Yesterday, we watched a piece by  a physical theatre company, DV8 called, 'Dead Dreams of Monochrome Men' which was all about homosexual murder and necrophilia (check out http://www.dv8.co.uk/home/review_the_financial_times_dead_dreams for more information about this piece). The piece was very bold and featured nudity and movements suggesting sexual acts.

The result of this shocked many people on my course who had not seen anything like it before (I had seen DV8's work before so I knew what to expect) and therefore voiced their opinions about how they felt about seeing two men together and called it 'disgusting' and many of the guys in the room said that they would prefer seeing two women together. However, they did not think about how it affected other people in the room, particularly my friend who is gay who may now feels as if he sexuality isn't accepted. But really, what difference does it make if what we were watching was featuring a male and female showing affection, to two females and then two males? Why is a man and women together more accepted in society? Love is love right?

This made me think more about not only how society perceives gay people and the use of the word 'gay' as an adjective for something negative, but also about how we voice our opinions. Maybe we need to be more sensitive when we voice our opinions and think more about how people around us perceive it. With social media being so popular in today's society, it is so easy to voice a bold opinion because you feel protected by a screen and don't have to say it to anyone's face, however perhaps we need to think more about how other's may see it.

I'm not saying we shouldn't voice our opinions, I'm voicing mine right now! But something are better left unsaid. Those guys in my drama class didn't think about how their opinions affected those around them. Yes, they may not have liked watching two men show their attraction to one another, but they didn't have to express it in such a vocal and defensive manner, particularly with one of their friends, who is gay, sitting right by them. If anything, they really should have been looking at the amazing way DV8 uses physical theatre to communicate different themes and how they could interpret this in their own drama pieces.

That is all!

The Student Chapter: 1- Uni Bedroom and Bathroom Haul



As I'm leaving home and all, the first thing that came to mind was shopping. Because, of course, I'd be needing loads of new (pink, sparkly and wonderful) things. So here is the first shopping haul- the bedroom and bathroom.

 

 

Bedroom

 

My theme for my room has naturally just became pink and girly (with a few owls dotted here and there.. not real ones though.. just to clarify..) The theme sprung from purchasing my duvet covers from BHS. It is a reversible sheet with girly images (like a pot of tea, flowers, bunting, butterflies etc.) on one side and flowers on the other. I brought a matching pillow and an owl cushion to go with it.
 

 

 

I then got a few bits and pieces for my room. I purchased a flowery box to put my jewellery and hair accessories in from the CO-OP as well as another pink box for nail varnishes. Then I found this rope hanger for scarves and belts to hang on the back of your door in IKEA as well as a vase and clothes hangers. My 'Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake' clock was from a friend and the clapper board was also a gift from Debenhams. I also have a tea light holder that I have put a fake flower in for decoration and another small box for rings.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bathroom

 

For my bathroom, I found matching towel hooks and lotions box in CO-OP as well as some light and dark pink towels in the sale.

  

Flying out of the Nest

Hello there! I feel like I haven't posted for a long time :( Sorry if you feel like I have abandoned you but that is not the case! I just have been super super busy at the moment. Why? Because I am officially leaving the nest and flying out into the big, scary world in just a few days! EEEKK! Yes, I am departing from the comforts of my lovely home to go to University. But, I've decided I'm not going alone. Instead I am taking you with me! As I plan to start a new chapter in my life, I have decided to start a new chapter on my blog as well. I plan to document my student life on my blog in a new 'Student Chronicle'. The first section will be all about my university room hauls, then to night-life, fashion and finally the actual studying! So what do you say? Are you ready to enter the big wide world with me? Then let's beginnnn!!!!!